You say Tomato, we say British Tomato Week!

Next week is British Tomato Week
and we’re gearing up to celebrate this humble fruit. To mark the occasion, we’re
going to be finding out more about this versatile ingredient and what makes it
the most popular fruit in the world, with an incredible 170 million tonnes
produced across the globe on a yearly basis.

Tomato History & Facts

Tomatoes come from the Americas and
the earliest record of them can be traced back to the Aztecs in around 700 AD.
It was the Europeans that travelled across the Atlantic that introduced them to
Britain and other European nations. It was quickly accepted as a firm favourite
in Southern Italy, however the tomato was met with a great deal of suspicion in
Britain; at first, many thought it was poisonous!

·Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, an antioxidant
which helps protect the heart.

·La Tomatina takes place every year in the
Spanish town of Buñol, where an amazing 40,000 participants take place in a
giant tomato fight – covering the town in tomato pulp!

·There are more than 20,000 different varieties
of tomatoes grown across the world.

Tomato Recipes

The tomato is incredibly versatile
and is used in thousands of different recipes. We’ve included a more
traditional recipe along with one that might surprise you.

·This smoky
tomato sauce goes incredibly well with all kinds of pasta and meat. The
tomatoes are gently roasted at first to give them a smoky edge.

·These sweet
tomato turnovers are a dessert with a difference. You might be apprehensive
about trying them at first but once you’ve tried them, you’ll view tomatoes in
a whole new light! You can have extra fun with friends and family by getting
them to guess the filling.